292 OLD THIRLESTANE CASTLE AND CONVENT 



Comment of Thirlestane. 



The ruins of the Convent at Thirlestane, which adjoin 

 the present Thirlestane farm steading, are rather curious. 

 For most part only the foundations remain. Those of the 

 north wall underlie the wall forming the fence of the old 

 line of public road. The only wall remaining of any height 

 is the western gable, which has been the back of a great 

 fireplace. The stones carrying the arch linteling over the 

 front are visible at the north corner, while in the other 

 corner are remains of what seems to have been an oven. 



The eastern end of the building is circular in plan, 

 indicating a Norman foundation. 



The position of the door can only be guessed at, and only 

 one window can be certainly located. There is no evidence 

 of the position of the division which separated the kitchen 

 part from the eastern end, which, with its apsidal termin- 

 ation, was probably used as a church. 



The walls, which have been 2^ feet thick, are without 

 any appearance of buttress. Probably the building was not 

 of great height. The corners have been removed from the 

 remaining parts of the building, and it cannot be known 

 of what material they consisted. If they were freestone, 

 that would account for their being taken away. 



